On most occasions, New Bern's offense needed just one goal, and the defense would take care of the rest.

So when the Bears had to score, the goal usually came off the foot, or head, of senior Brittany McLawhorn.

McLawhorn netted a team-high 20 goals, and contributed several more assists, to lead New Bern's girls' soccer team to the NCHSAA 4A state semifinals.

“Having to be a leader up top was a huge thing, but what worked for us was scoring clutch goals in the first half, then defending the rest of the time,” said McLawhorn, the 2013 Sun Journal Girls' Soccer Player of the Year.

“It was very nerve-racking. That role is huge, especially in the playoffs, but we didn't want to lose.”

McLawhorn took the team on her shoulders in the first three rounds of the postseason. Her goals against Hoggard and Pinecrest pushed New Bern to a 1-0 victory in the second and third round.

The forward, along with senior Sierra Bondurant, racked up 30 of the team's 52 goals.

As a sophomore, McLawhorn scored 20 goals, which dipped to 12 as a junior.

But she was motivated to play her best in her final season.

“This year, I got more of a scoring role and we had very limited subs,” she said. “I rarely came out of the game as a forward, so I took on that role and had a lot more goals.”

McLawhorn guided the Bears to their second state semifinal appearance in three seasons. The six seniors are the only class to play in the Eastern Regional Finals twice.

New Bern (14-7-1) finished third in the Mideastern Conference, forcing them on the road in the postseason.

However, the road warriors won four matches away from New Bern.

A 1-0 victory over New Hanover set the Bears up for a semifinal match with Green Hope, the No. 1 team in the nation.

“Personally, this was my favorite season,” McLawhorn said. “Sophomore year came close, but I felt I played my best this year, not just with scoring goals, but as a whole.

“That's what I wanted because it was my senior year.”

New Bern held its own against Green Hope before losing 3-1 in Cary. The Bears' defense didn't allow a goal in the second half.

“It was probably the biggest thing in my career because I am not going to play in college,” McLawhorn said. “The Green Hope game was the last game I will ever play.

“Having it end was one of the hardest things. I could not have expected more out of the team.”

While McLawhorn doesn't plan on playing soccer in college, she will attend North Carolina State and try to play club or intramurals.

The Bears' leading scorer said she will hold on to a lot of memories from her four-year varsity career, such as playing with some of her best friends and turning New Bern's soccer program into a team to be reckoned with.

“Those girls are my absolute best friends and that's how we played so well together,” McLawhorn said. “We've been playing together since we were real little and we have so much chemistry together.

“I wouldn't have wanted any other teammates.”

Adam Thompson can be contacted at 252-635-5669 or at Adam.Thompson@newbernsj.com. Follow Adam on Twitter @Adam_matic.